View source for Conestoga Parkway

{{good article}}
{{short description|Freeway in Ontario}}
{{Infobox road
|province       = ON
|type           = Hwy
|route          = Conestoga
|alternate_name = Kitchener–Waterloo Expressway
|map            = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=290|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Conestoga Parkway}}}}
|map_custom     = yes
|map_notes      = Conestoga Parkway highlighted in red
|length_km      = 20.7
|length_ref     = <ref name="km" />
|direction_a    = West
|terminus_a     = Trussler Road
|junction       = {{jcon|Hwy|8|city=Cambridge}}<br />{{jcon|Hwy|7|city=Guelph}}
|direction_b    = North
|terminus_b     = {{convert|350|m|yd|0}} north of King Street North interchange
|cities         = [[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]], [[Waterloo, Ontario|Waterloo]]
|established    = September 19, 1968
}}
The '''Conestoga Parkway''', officially the '''Kitchener–Waterloo Expressway''',
is a [[controlled-access highway]] in the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian province]] of [[Ontario]], located entirely within the [[Regional Municipality of Waterloo]]. The {{convert|20.7|km|adj=on}} route travels east and then north through the cities of [[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]] and [[Waterloo, Ontario|Waterloo]], and is connected to [[Ontario Highway 401|Highway&nbsp;401]] via [[Ontario Highway 8|Highway&nbsp;8]] and [[Waterloo Regional Road 15|King Street East]]. The name Conestoga Parkway is not a formal designation, but rather a local name applied to the divided expressway portions of [[Ontario Highway 7|Highway&nbsp;7]], Highway{{nbsp}}8 and [[Ontario Highway 85|Highway&nbsp;85]] through Kitchener and Waterloo. The [[Ministry of Transportation of Ontario]] (MTO), which built and maintains the route, refers to it as the Kitchener–Waterloo Expressway.

Originally conceived as a [[ring road]] in the 1940s, the concept evolved into a pair of [[grade separation|at-grade]] four lane [[boulevard]]s known as Henry Sturm Boulevard (east–west) and Dryden Boulevard (north–south), for which land was gradually purchased through the 1950s and into the early 1960s. The completion of Highway{{nbsp}}401 between [[Toronto]] and Highway{{nbsp}}8 in 1960 resulted in businesses relocating closer to it; consequently, traffic planners redesigned the boulevards into a continuous four lane expressway in 1962.

Construction of the Kitchener–Waterloo Expressway began in 1966 with the rebuilding of King Street East into a divided highway. This project also resulted in the construction of the [[interchange (road)|interchange]] with the future expressway, which was named the Conestoga Parkway in 1967. The northern and western legs were built outwards from this interchange simultaneously over the following five years, opening in sections between 1968 and 1971. At that time, the route extended west to Fischer-Hallman Road and north to the southern interchange with King Street North. Two lane extensions opened in 1973 and 1977 to connect the parkway with [[New Hamburg, Ontario|New Hamburg]] and [[St. Jacobs, Ontario|St. Jacobs]], respectively. Portions of these were expanded to four lanes in the early 1990s. A series of projects saw the parkway completely rebuilt through its central section between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, including a concrete [[central reservation|median]] barrier, additional lanes, and a new [[flyover ramp]] at Highway{{nbsp}}8.

An ongoing but frequently delayed project to construct a new freeway between Kitchener and [[Guelph]] will see a new interchange built at the existing Wellington Street interchange, in addition to the numerous bridges that have already been lengthened in the vicinity. There is currently no projected timeline for the construction of completion of this project as of 2022.

== Route description ==
[[File:Conestoga Parkway K-W.jpg|left|thumb|Aerial view of the Conestoga Parkway, with downtown Kitchener visible on the left|alt=An aerial photograph of an urban area, with the Conestoga Parkway visible from the foreground into the distance]]
The Conestoga Parkway is a {{convert|20.7|km|adj=on}}<ref name="km" /> controlled-access freeway serving the twin cities of Kitchener and Waterloo. The route, which forms the rough shape of a backwards "L", serves as the backbone of the two cities. As the [[concurrency (road)|concurrency]] of Highway{{nbsp}}7 and Highway{{nbsp}}8 enters the city of Kitchener as a freeway from the west, it takes on the name Conestoga Parkway at the [[Waterloo Regional Road&nbsp;70]] (Trussler Road) exit at the western edge of the city. The parkway travels east until Highway{{nbsp}}8 diverges southeast toward [[Cambridge, Ontario|Cambridge]]. Now carrying only the Highway{{nbsp}}7 designation, the Conestoga Parkway curves northward. At the Frederick Street and Victoria Street interchange, Highway{{nbsp}}7 exits the parkway and follows Victoria Street east toward [[Guelph, Ontario|Guelph]]; the parkway henceforth is signed as Highway{{nbsp}}85 to its northern end, which lies approximately {{convert|750|m|yd}} north of the Waterloo city limits.<ref name="gmaps">{{Google maps
 | title       = Conestoga Parkway – Length and Route
 | url         = https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/43.4090441,-80.5480716/43.5152344,-80.545895/@43.4667037,-80.5827549,16609m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m49!4m48!1m45!3m4!1m2!1d-80.5140653!2d43.419069!3s0x882bf5bc48f917fb:0x48d481b1bbcca160!3m4!1m2!1d-80.4687884!2d43.4305481!3s0x882bf527f1974547:0xcd6f7841431f283b!3m4!1m2!1d-80.4569726!2d43.4357807!3s0x882bf4d37d9ca49b:0x385e458d7e924817!3m4!1m2!1d-80.4602919!2d43.4464495!3s0x882bf4cbe9535c67:0x329f3fb27bcb24fb!3m4!1m2!1d-80.4703232!2d43.4563579!3s0x882bf4bbd70afb5f:0xf5c4da652072c801!3m4!1m2!1d-80.4711615!2d43.4640089!3s0x882bf4a482310553:0x71c50ebf64ced639!3m4!1m2!1d-80.4880686!2d43.4733213!3s0x882bf363baa7172d:0x69851ea5e949bb45!3m4!1m2!1d-80.5012936!2d43.4861884!3s0x882bf39d955a2099:0x2631dc7be1a8799d!3m4!1m2!1d-80.5404431!2d43.4989999!3s0x882bf3dec1cbce5d:0xb9f9671c70036e6b!1m0!3e0
 | access-date = May 7, 2022}}</ref><ref name="2022 mapart">{{cite map
 | title       = Ontario Back Road Atlas
 | cartography = [[MapArt]]
 | publisher   = Mapart Publishing
 | year        = 2022
 | isbn        = 1-55198-226-9
 | page        = 22
 | sections    = D2–E3}}</ref>
The Conestoga Parkway is maintained by the [[Ministry of Transportation of Ontario]] (MTO), which officially refers to it as the Kitchener–Waterloo Expressway.<ref>{{cite press release
 | title       = Ontario Moving Forward With New Highway 7
 | publisher   = [[Mike Harris Jr.|Mike Harris]]
 | date        = July 21, 2021
 | url         = https://www.mikeharrismpp.ca/ontario_moving_forward_with_new_highway_7
 | access-date = March 15, 2022}}</ref>
The speed limit on the parkway is {{convert|90|km/h|mph|round=5}} throughout its length.<ref>{{cite web
 | title       = Ontario Road Network - Ontario Provincial Highways
 | author1     = [[Ministry of Transportation of Ontario]] Geomatics Office
 | author2     = Land Information Ontario
 | date        = December 10, 2020
 | url         = https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=21d0776a5fb347728a3c79a0d7ace051
 | website     = [[ArcGIS.com]]
 | access-date = March 29, 2021}}</ref>

=== Western leg ===
[[File:Conestoga and Freeport interchange.png|thumb|right|Interchange between the Conestoga Parkway (left to right) and [[Freeport Diversion]]|alt=An aerial photo of a 3-legged highway interchange in an urban area]]

At the Kitchener city limits at Trussler Road the concurrency of Highway{{nbsp}}7/8 continues west as a four lane freeway towards [[Stratford, Ontario|Stratford]].<ref name="2022 mapart" /> Within Kitchener, the Conestoga Parkway consistently acts as the boundary for neighbourhoods to either side of it.<ref name="kitchiner-neighbourhoods">{{cite map
 | title       = Planning Communities
 | cartography = Geospatial Data and Analytics, Technology Innovation and Services, Corporate Services
 | publisher   = City of Kitchener
 | date        = March 19, 2022
 | url         = https://app2.kitchener.ca/appdocs/GISImages/GIS_Web_External/Standard_Maps/Planning_Communities.pdf
 | access-date = March 20, 2022}}</ref>
Initially, it is sandwiched between the suburban residential neighbourhoods of Forest Heights and Laurentian West neighbourhoods, to the north and south respectively, as it travels east to Regional Road{{nbsp}}58 (Fischer–Hallman Road). There the [[central reservation|median]] switches from grass to a concrete barrier, and the parkway widens to six lanes. It passes north of the Sunrise Shopping Centre before once again bisecting residential neighbourhoods, namely Forest Hill and Meinzinger Park to the north and Laurentian Hills to the south.<ref name="gmaps" /><ref name="2022 mapart" /><ref name="kitchiner-neighbourhoods" />

Approaching the Regional Road{{nbsp}}28 ([[Homer Watson]] Boulevard) interchange – which provides access to Regional Road 4 (Ottawa Street) – retail and light industry in the Alpine neighbourhood begin to flank the southern side of the Conestoga Parkway. It then crosses over the [[Canadian National Railways]] Huron Park spur, the adjacent [[Ion rapid transit|ION LRT line]], and Schneider Creek immediately west of an interchange with Regional Road{{nbsp}}53 (Courtland Avenue). Now serving as the boundary between the residential neighbourhoods of Rockway to the north and Vanier to the south, the route curves north-northeast to reach an interchange with the Freeport Diversion (also known as the King Street Bypass or Highway{{nbsp}}8 expressway).<ref name="gmaps" /><ref name="2022 mapart" /><ref name="kitchiner-neighbourhoods" />

=== Northern leg ===
[[File:Highway 85 Waterloo.png|thumb|left|Facing northbound along the Conestoga Parkway at Lancaster Street, near the Kitchener–Waterloo boundary|alt=A photo down the centre of a freeway, taken from a bridge. The opposing lanes of the freeway are separated by grass.]]
The portion of the Conestoga Parkway that travels perpendicular to King Street East follows alongside Montgomery Creek. Now eight lanes wide, it passes over Weber Street and then curves north-northwest to avoid the Stanley Park Conservation Area, with the neighbourhoods of Eastwood to the west and Stanley Park to the southeast.<ref name="2022 mapart" /><ref name="kitchiner-neighbourhoods" /> The parkway follows the former alignment of Edna Street north to Frederick Street,<ref name="Drivers get feel of parkway">{{cite news
 | title       = Drivers get feel of parkway
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = June 19, 1968
 | pages       = 13
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547232/page/14?n=9
 | access-date = March 20, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref>
with the neighbourhoods of Auditorium and Central Frederick to the west and Rosemount to the east. It briefly swerves northwards, passing under Frederick Street, Victoria Street, and the [[Kitchener line|Kitchener GO line]] in quick succession. An interchange serves both Frederick Street and Victoria Street via the parallel roads of Regional Road{{nbsp}}62 (Edna Street) and Regional Road{{nbsp}}61 (Bruce Street); an interchange with Wellington Street follows soon thereafter. Due to the close proximity of these two interchanges, the Conestoga Parkway utilizes a brief [[Local–express lanes|local–express system]] for approximately {{convert|1.7|km}}.<ref name="gmaps" /><ref name="2022 mapart" /><ref name="kitchiner-neighbourhoods" />

Now passing through light industry in the Northward neighbourhood, the Conestoga Parkway makes a broad curve to the west to avoid the [[Grand River (Ontario)|Grand River]] and meets Regional Road{{nbsp}}29 (Lancaster Street), which features a [[partial interchange]]. The median barrier ends immediately after, and a grass median begins. To the south is the neighbourhood of Fairfield, while Bridgeport lies to the north. The route gradually curves back to the north and enters the city of Waterloo at Regional Road{{nbsp}}9 (Bridgeport Road), with which there is an interchange.<ref name="gmaps" /><ref name="2022 mapart" /><ref name="kitchiner-neighbourhoods" />

[[File:Highway 85 southbound into Conestoga Parkway.png|thumb|right|Highway 85 facing south at the northern end of the Conestoga Parkway|alt=Aerial image of the beginning of a freeway, as it widens from two lanes to four lanes with a grass median. The image shows the rural-urban fringe of Waterloo]]
The Conestoga Parkway enters Waterloo with the suburban neighbourhood of Lincoln Heights to the west and [[Greenfield land|greenfields]] and Betchel Park to the east. After {{convert|1.5|km}}, it crosses Laurel Creek and encounters an interchange with Regional Road{{nbsp}}57 (University Avenue) before curving gradually to the west-northwest. With the neighbourhoods of Lincoln West to the south and Foxhunt to the north, the parkway encounters the first of two interchanges with [[Waterloo Regional Road 15|Regional Road&nbsp;15]] (King Street North); [[Conestoga Mall (Waterloo, Ontario)|Conestoga Mall]] lies to the northeast. It becomes parallel to Forwell Creek as it curves back northward, after which the parkway travels parallel to and east of the [[Waterloo Central Railway]] for the remainder of its length. An interchange with Regional Road{{nbsp}}50 (Northfield Drive) also carries the ION LRT line over the route as it travels through an area of light industry. Just prior to the second interchange with King Street North, the Conestoga Parkway exits Waterloo into the township of [[Woolwich, Ontario|Woolwich]].<ref name="gmaps" /><ref name="2022 mapart" /><ref>{{cite web
 | title       = Nearby Neighbourhoods
 | publisher   = City of Waterloo
 | url         = https://www.waterloo.ca/en/neighbourhoods/nearby-neighbourhoods.aspx
 | access-date = March 30, 2022}}</ref>
Both the parkway and Highway{{nbsp}}85 end approximately {{convert|350|m}} north of King Street North, after which the four lane freeway narrows and is known as Waterloo Regional Road{{nbsp}}85.<ref name="km" /><ref name="2022 mapart" />

== History ==
=== Planning and construction ===
[[File:Ottawa St facing east at at Henry Sturm Blvd, 1961.png|thumb|left|Ottawa Street and Henry Strum Boulevard in 1961, at the present site of the Homer Watson Boulevard interchange|alt=Black and white image of a two lane road travelling through muddy fields]]
Although the concept of a [[ring road]] around Kitchener and Waterloo originated from the Kitchener-Waterloo and Suburban Planning Board in 1948,<ref name="expect-expressway">{{cite news
 | title       = Expect Expressway Opening Soon
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = December 13, 1962
 | pages       = 1, 4
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3546950/page/5?n=
 | access-date = March 4, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Expressway Objections Continue To Increase
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = April 11, 1963
 | page        = 1
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3546966/page/2?n=9
 | access-date = March 4, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref>
actual consideration was not given to it until it was recommended by a 1961 traffic study.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Expressway Has Top Priority
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = February 14, 1963
 | page        = 1
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3546958/page/2?n=6
 | access-date = March 4, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref>
By then, the opening of [[Ontario Highway 401|Highway&nbsp;401]] was attracting business away from the rapidly growing twin cities. Land was gradually purchased over the intervening years and picked up considerably when plans for the expressway system were first raised in late 1962.<ref name="expect-expressway" />
The ring road prior to this point had evolved to a proposed pair of east–west and north–south four lane [[boulevard]]s known as Henry Strum Boulevard and Dryden Boulevard. However, Kitchener planning director Bill Thompson changed this to a single controlled-access highway.<ref>{{cite news
 | first       = Jeff | last = Outhit
 | title       = Road Ahead: Father of expressway explains how it got built
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = December 13, 2014
 | url         = https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/2014/12/13/road-ahead-father-of-expressway-explains-how-it-got-built.html
 | access-date = March 16, 2022}}</ref>
The Department of Highways had already begun construction in the fall of 1961 on the Freeport Diversion, providing a new divided crossing of the Grand River along [[Ontario Highway 8|Highway&nbsp;8]]. The diversion, connecting with King Street south of the Grand River and at Fergus Avenue, was completed in 1963.<ref>{{cite news
 | first       = Jeff | last = Outhit
 | title       = Freeport Bridge to get $1.6-million overhaul
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = March 8, 2002
 | page        = B1
 | id          = {{ProQuest|266974851}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite report
 | title       = Annual Report
 | publisher   = Ontario Department of Highway
 | date        = March 31, 1962
 | page        = 32
 | url         = https://books.google.com/books?id=f2tOAAAAMAAJ&q=%22freeport%22
 | access-date = March 6, 2022
 | quote       = "Work on the dual highway diversion of Highway 8 at Freeport, with structures, was begun in the fall of 1961."}}</ref><ref>{{cite report
 | title       = Annual Report
 | publisher   = Ontario Department of Highway
 | date        = March 31, 1963
 | page        = 31
 | url         = https://books.google.com/books?id=gYb_pMUWRp4C&q=%22Freeport%22+%22opened+on%22
 | access-date = March 6, 2022}}</ref>

The provincial government reached a funding arrangement with Kitchener and Waterloo to cover 75% of the expected [[Canadian dollar|C$]]22 million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|CA|22000000|1964}}}} in {{Inflation-year|CA}} dollars).{{inflation-fn|CA}} cost, and officially announced the Kitchener–Waterloo Expressway on May{{nbsp}}21, 1964.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Expressway Unveiled For Kitchener Region
 | work        = The Globe and Mail
 | date        = May 22, 1964
 | page        = 4
 | id          = {{ProQuest|1282688633}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>
The province eventually took over authority for the entire project in August 1965.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = D Of H Take Over K-W Expressway
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = August 11, 1965
 | page        = 3
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547084/page/2?n=4
 | access-date = March 4, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref>
Construction began in February 1966 with the awarding of a C$3 million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|CA|3000000|1966}}}} in {{Inflation-year|CA}} dollars).{{inflation-fn|CA}} contract to rebuild {{convert|2.7|km}} of King Street into a four lane divided highway from Fairway Road (renamed from Block Line Road in 1965) to Doon Road,<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Start Soon On Kitchener Expressway
 | work        = The Brantford Expositor
 | date        = February 15, 1966
 | page        = 3
 | url         = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96917552/start-soon-on-kitchener-expressway/
 | access-date = March 4, 2022
 | via         = Newspapers.com}}</ref>
including the [[Interchange (road)#Cloverleaf interchange|half cloverleaf]] interchange that would serve the western and northern legs of the expressway system.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = '67 Parkway Construction Hits $11 Million
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = December 27, 1967
 | page        = 3
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547207/page/4?n=3
 | access-date = March 4, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref>
A ground-breaking ceremony was held in the fall of that year, with dignitaries taking turns driving a bulldozer.<ref name="vision" />
In anticipation of the long-term construction, Highway{{nbsp}}8 was redirected along Fairway Road, Mill Street (now Vanier Drive) and the short section of Henry Sturm Boulevard that was constructed from Ottawa Street and Highland Road to Mill Street.<ref>{{cite map
 | title       = Kitchener - Breslau (Kitchener East), Ontario. Map Sheet 40P/08E
 | cartography = Surveys and Mapping Branch
 | publisher   = Department of Energy, Mines and Resources
 | year        = 1968
 | scale       = 1:25,000
 | edition     = 1
 | url         = http://geo.scholarsportal.info/#r/details/_uri@=HTDP25K040P08e_1968TIFF&_add:true_nozoom:true
 | access-date = March 4, 2022
 | via         = Scholars GeoPortal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | first       = Rych | last = Mills
 | title       = Flash From the Past
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = October 22, 2016
 | url         = https://www.therecord.com/life/2016/10/22/flash-from-the-past.html
 | access-date = March 4, 2022}}</ref>
The reconstruction of King Street was completed and opened in November 1967.<ref>{{cite report
 | title       = Annual Report
 | publisher   = Ontario Department of Highway
 | date        = March 31, 1968
 | page        = 10
 | quote       = "In November the first major contract for the Kitchener-Waterloo Expressway, a two-mile section of King Street in Kitchener, was completed."}}</ref>

[[File:Conestoga Parkway, 1970.png|thumb|right|Interchange between Conestoga Parkway and Freeport Diversion in 1970, shortly after opening|alt=Black and white aerial photo of a half-cloverleaf highway interchange surrounded by manicured lawns and suburban development]]
The Kitchener–Waterloo Expressway was unofficially renamed the Conestoga Parkway in January 1967 by a joint committee of the two cities. A shortlist of 12 publicly-submitted names was prepared, and included [[Mackenzie King]], John Patrick, [[Benjamin Eby|Eby-Erb]] (early [[Mennonite]] settlers), [[Daniel Bechtel Detweiler|Dan Detweiller]] (a founder of the Ontario hydroelectric system<ref>{{cite news
 | first       = Rych | last = Mills
 | title       = History preserved: The story of the Detweiler meetinghouse
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = June 21, 2019
 | url         = https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2019/06/21/history-preserved-the-story-of-the-detweiler-meetinghouse.html
 | access-date = March 20, 2022}}</ref>), [[Frederick Banting]], Centennial, Pioneer, Grand Valley, Golden Triangle, The Kingsway, and Conestoga. The name, a reference to the Mennonite [[conestoga wagon]] used by early settlers, was chosen unanimously by the committee.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Choose Name For Expressway
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = January 25, 1967
 | page        = 1
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547159/page/2?n=3
 | access-date = March 4, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref>

On the northern leg of the parkway, early works construction along Edna Street, including the removal of several dozen homes, began in 1966, and tenders were called for construction of the route from King Street to Frederick Street in September. Full construction on the C$1.9{{nbsp}}million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|CA|1900000|1967}}}} in {{Inflation-year|CA}} dollars).{{inflation-fn|CA}} contract began in April 1967.<ref name="vision" /><ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Expressway News
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = September 21, 1966
 | pages        = 1, 6
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547174/page/3755220
 | access-date = March 28, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Expressway News
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = May 10, 1967
 | page        = 11
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547174/page/3755737?q=Conestoga+parkway
 | access-date = March 28, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref>
It was completed and opened to traffic on September{{nbsp}}19, 1968.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Cabinet Pair Will Open X-Way Strip
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = September 10, 1968}}<!-- no page number, clipping from Kitchener Library GSR vertical files --></ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title       = 3-Day Delay on X-Way
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = September 14, 1968}}<!-- no page number, clipping from Kitchener Library GSR vertical files --></ref>
Another contract, to build the parkway from Frederick Street and Bridgeport Road, was awarded that month for C$5.1{{nbsp}}million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|CA|5100000|1968}}}} in {{Inflation-year|CA}} dollars).{{inflation-fn|CA}}, with construction beginning in October.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Oakville firm to build parkway to Bridgeport Rd.
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = September 19, 1968
 | page        = 6
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547245/page/7?n=
 | access-date = March 28, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Parkway work progresses
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = October 10, 1968
 | page        = 3
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547248/page/4?n=
 | access-date = March 29, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref>
On the western leg of the parkway, construction began in October 1967 on a C$3.6 million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|CA|3600000|1967}}}} in {{Inflation-year|CA}} dollars).{{inflation-fn|CA}} contract to build a {{convert|2.9|km|adj=on}} segment of the parkway from King Street to west of Homer Watson Boulevard.<ref name="design">{{cite news
 | title       = Kitchener–Waterloo Expressway Design: King street to west of Homer Watson blvd.
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = October 11, 1967
 | page        = 9
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547196/page/10?n=628
 | access-date = March 4, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref>
This section, which was built along the alignment of Henry Strum Boulevard, was opened to traffic between Courtland Avenue and King Street on November{{nbsp}}25, 1968.<ref name="vision">{{cite book
 | first       = Bill | last = Thompson
 | title       = The Conestoga Parkway vision to reality: with some stories and events along the way
 | publisher   = Pandora Print Shop<!-- Note: Bill Thompson (the same one mentioned earlier in the article) was the planning director of the City of Kitchener from 1961 to 1970, after which he was the Commissioner of Planning and Development for the Regional Municipality of Waterloo until 1985. See https://www.cip-icu.ca/About/College-of-Fellows/Recipients/William-E-Thomson-FCIP -->
 | year        = 2014
 | section     = Commencement of Construction for the Expressway
 | page        = 61}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title       = No Fanfare As X-way Link Opens
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = November 25, 1968}}<!-- no page number, clipping from Kitchener Library GSR vertical files --></ref>

Work continued on the Conestoga Parkway into the early 1970s. On the northern leg, the segment under construction between Frederick Street and Bridgeport Road was completed and opened on October{{nbsp}}5 or 6, 1970.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Parkway links open
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = October 1, 1970
 | page        = 13
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547351/page/14?n=
 | access-date = March 29, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Another X-Way Link Opening Next Week
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = September 29, 1970}}<!-- no page number, clipping from Kitchener Library GSR vertical files --></ref>
Just over a month later, on November{{nbsp}}13, the first portion of the expressway within Waterloo was opened ceremoniously by Minister of Highways [[George Gomme]].<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Parkway opens
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = November 12, 1970
 | page        = 3
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547357/page/4?n=40
 | access-date = March 29, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref>
Construction of this section, through undeveloped farmland between Bridgeport Road and the southern interchange with King Street North, took place beginning in 1969.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Expressway detours planned
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = September 25, 1969
 | page        = 15
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547298/page/16?n=20
 | access-date = March 29, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref>
On the western leg, a section between Courtland Avenue and Fischer-Hallman Drive opened on September{{nbsp}}1, 1971, completing the Kitchener–Waterloo Expressway project.<ref name="vision" /><ref>{{cite news
 | title       = All X-Way Open Now
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = September 1, 1971}}<!-- no page number, clipping from Kitchener Library GSR vertical files --></ref>

By this time, construction was underway on a new two lane alignment of [[Ontario Highway 7|Highway{{nbsp}}7]]/8, first announced in 1963, to connect the [[New Hamburg, Ontario|New Hamburg]] Diversion with the Conestoga Parkway at Fischer-Hallman Drive. It opened on August{{nbsp}}13, 1973, bypassing the community of Baden.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = X-way link to Hamburg opens today
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = August 13, 1973}}<!-- no page number, clipping from Kitchener Library GSR vertical files --></ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title       = To Build New Road
 | work        = The [[Kingston Whig-Standard]]
 | date        = August 17, 1963
 | page        = 18
 | volume      = 37 | issue = 217
 | url         = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97650429/to-build-new-road/
 | access-date = March 14, 2022
 | via         = Newspapers.com}}</ref>
To the north, construction of a two lane alignment of [[Ontario Highway 85|Highway&nbsp;85]] to connect the Conestoga Parkway, at the southern intersection of King Street North, with the [[St. Jacobs, Ontario|St. Jacobs]] Bypass began in 1974. The extension, which featured an at-grade intersection with Northfield Road and a grade-separation with the northern King Street North, was opened in late August, 1977.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = The finishing touch
 | work        = Waterloo Chronicle
 | date        = August 3, 1977
 | page        = 8
 | url         = https://images.ourontario.ca/waterloo/3547705/page/9?n=
 | access-date = April 1, 2022
 | via         = Waterloo Public Library}}</ref><!-- need a map or something to show the King Street North overpass. Interchange opened in 1995 -->

=== Since completion ===
As each section of the Conestoga Parkway opened, the DHO moved portions of Highways{{nbsp}}7, 8 and 85 onto it. By 1972, the current configuration of the three highways was established.<ref>{{cite map
 | title       = Ontario Road Map
 | cartography = Cartography Section
 | publisher   = Ministry of Transportation and Communications
 | year        = 1972
 | inset       = Kitchener Waterloo
 | url         = http://ao.minisisinc.com/FS_IMAGES/I0050565.jpg
 | access-date = April 1, 2022
 | via         = Archives of Ontario}}</ref>
However, in 1980 or 1981, Highway{{nbsp}}85 was renumbered as Highway{{nbsp}}86.
<ref>{{cite map
 | title       = Ontario Road Map
 | cartography = Cartography Section
 | publisher   = Ministry of Transportation and Communications
 | year        = 1980–81<!-- Note on legend: "Information compiled to January 1, 1980" -->
 | inset       = South-Central Ontario
 | url         = http://ao.minisisinc.com/FS_IMAGES/I0050580.jpg
 | access-date = April 1, 2022
 | via         = Archives of Ontario}}</ref><ref>{{cite map
 | title       = Ontario Road Map
 | cartography = Cartography Section
 | publisher   = Ministry of Transportation and Communications
 | year        = 1982–83<!-- Note on legend: "Information compiled to January 1, 1982" -->
 | inset       = South-Central Ontario
 | url         = http://ao.minisisinc.com/FS_IMAGES/I0050582.jpg
 | access-date = April 1, 2022
 | via         = Archives of Ontario}}</ref>
It remained as such until the spring of 2003, when several highways in Ontario were renumbered to improve [[route number]] continuity and aid navigation. Among them was the renumbering of Highway{{nbsp}}86 back to Highway{{nbsp}}85, restoring the original numbering scheme of the parkway.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Highway 86 on Parkway to be Changed to 86
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = February 12, 2002
 | page        = B3
 | id          = {{ProQuest|266993085}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title        = Ontario government improves provincial highway numbering
 | author       = Ministry of Transportation
 | publisher    = Newswire
 | date         = February 11, 2002
 | url          = http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2002/02/11/c0640.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.html
 | access-date  = January 10, 2012
 | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20020804040711/http://www.newswire.ca/government/ontario/english/releases/February2002/11/c0640.html
 | archive-date = August 4, 2002}}</ref>

The two lane segment of Highway 7/8 from Fischer-Hallman Road west to Baden was originally slated to be [[twinning (roads)|twinned]] to four lanes in the 1980s, but the project was put off for a decade. Early works tree clearing got underway in 1991 before being put on hold for archeological excavations.<ref>{{cite news
 | title     = Finishing the job
 | work      = Kitchener - Waterloo Record
 | date      = January 7, 1991
 | page      = A6
 | id        = {{ProQuest|275155011}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title     = Archeologists scrape away time in Baden
 | work      = Kitchener - Waterloo Record
 | date      = May 30, 1991
 | page      = B3
 | id        = {{ProQuest|275240090}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title     = Highway 7-8 "bottleneck" annoys Wilmot councillor
 | work      = Kitchener - Waterloo Record
 | date      = October 15, 1991
 | page      = A15
 | id        = {{ProQuest|275245441}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>
Construction began to widen the route as far west as Waterloo Regional Road{{nbsp}}12 (Queen Street), south of Petersburg, on July{{nbsp}}6, 1992, with a planned completion by August 1993.<ref>{{cite news
 | title     = Highway widening to start on Monday
 | work      = Kitchener - Waterloo Record
 | date      = July 4, 1992
 | page      = B1
 | id        = {{ProQuest|275422550}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>

{{wide image|85-7-8_Interchange.png|500px|The Conestoga Parkway interchange with the Freeport Diversion. The flyover was constructed to remedy a [[half-cloverleaf interchange|half-cloverleaf]] infamous for [[Grade separation#Weaving|weaving]].|alt=A ground level photo of an intersection, with a series of ramps in the background}}
The lack of a [[jersey barrier|median barrier]] between the opposing lanes of the parkway led to numerous crossover collisions; between May 1990 and July 1993, eight deaths were directly attributed to vehicles crossing the grass median and striking vehicles in the opposing lane head on.<ref>{{cite news
 | first     = Tony | last = Reinhart
 | title     = Parkway safety plea reaches legislature
 | work      = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date      = July 23, 1993
 | page      = B1
 | id        = {{ProQuest|275529630}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>
Following the death of Laurie Brain on April{{nbsp}}8, 1990, a coroners jury on October{{nbsp}}9, 1991, recommended several immediate improvements to the parkway, including the installation of a median barrier as well as lowering the speed limit from {{convert|100|km/h}} to {{convert|90|km/h}}.<ref>{{cite news
 | first     = Tony | last = Reinhart
 | title     = Widen parkway, add barriers, jury says
 | work      = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date      = October 10, 1991
 | page      = B1
 | id        = {{ProQuest|275338463}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>
The speed limit was reduced to 90{{nbsp}}km/h on January{{nbsp}}11, 1994,<ref name="speed-limit">{{cite news
 | title    = Speed limit drops to 90 on parkway
 | work     = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date     = January 11, 1994
 | page     = A1
 | id       = {{ProQuest|275445480}}}}</ref>
while construction to install a barrier between Frederick Street and Lancaster Street began in July 1994.<ref>{{cite news
 | first     = John | last = Roe
 | title     = Parkway median construction begins
 | work      = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date      = July 28, 1994
 | page      = B2
 | id        = {{ProQuest|275338569}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>
The work, which also included the construction of storm drainage, was completed by the summer of 1995.<ref>{{cite news
 | title     = Clear driving on parkway this summer
 | work      = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date      = June 16, 1995
 | page      = B3
 | id        = {{ProQuest|275395447}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>
Construction of a barrier between Homer Watson Boulevard and Frederick Street began in July 1997,<ref>{{cite news
 | title     = Work starts on safer parkway
 | work      = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date      = July 23, 1997
 | page      = B2
 | id        = {{ProQuest|275476697}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>
and was completed by November.<ref>{{cite news
 | first     = Steve | last = Cannon
 | title     = Barriers nearly up on parkway
 | work      = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date      = October 23, 1997
 | page      = B10
 | id        = {{ProQuest|275504042}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>

[[File:Conestoga Parkway North.png|thumb|right|The collector–express section of the Conestoga serving the interchanges with Highway&nbsp;7/Victoria Street and Wellington Street|alt=Aerial photo of a freeway through a mostly intustrial area]]
In the early 1990s, the provincial government announced plans to widen the Conestoga Parkway and Freeport Diversion, as well as to improve the interchange between the two.<ref>{{cite news
 | first       = Greg | last = Crone
 | title       = Province must find alternative to road widening, Wagner says
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = February 11, 1992
 | page        = B2
 | id          = {{ProQuest|275282812}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>
The project was broken into several phases, and included rebuilding the Ottawa Street and Franklin Street overpasses.<ref>{{cite news
 | first       = Kevin | last = Crowley
 | title       = Parkway plans miff neighbors
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = February 13, 1998
 | page        = B1
 | id          = {{ProQuest|275522021}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>
Construction began in August or September 1998 to widen the Conestoga Parkway from four to six lanes between Courtland Avenue and King Street, from four to eight lanes between King Street and Ottawa Street, and from four to six lanes between Ottawa Street and Frederick Street.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Parkway upgrade begins
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = July 9, 1998
 | page        = B2
 | id          = {{ProQuest|275553956}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>
This stage of the project was completed in July 2000.<ref>{{cite news
 | first       = Carol | last = Goodwin
 | title       = Overpass woes will blossom in spring
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = July 21, 2000
 | page        = B01
 | id          = {{ProQuest|266880910}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>

The expansion of Highway{{nbsp}}8 from four lanes to eight lanes between the Conestoga Parkway and Fergus Avenue was originally scheduled to begin in 2001, but was delayed as businesses along Weber Street fought [[Corvée|expropriation]].<ref>{{cite news
 | first       = Bob | last = Burtt
 | title       = Highway 8 project on back burner
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = October 12, 2001
 | page        = A01
 | id          = {{ProQuest|266960877}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>
Construction instead began in April 2002, which involved shifting one of the retaining walls further north and a new Franklin Street bridge to accommodate the eight lane cross-section freeway. Included with this project was a reconstruction of the bottle-necked interchange of the Conestoga Parkway and Highway{{nbsp}}8, including a new flyover ramp from westbound Conestoga Parkway to eastbound Highway{{nbsp}}8 to replace one of the two loop ramps, and realignment of the northbound to eastbound ramp.<ref>{{cite news
 | first       = Brian | last = Caldwell
 | title       = Highway bottleneck surgery starts
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = April 27, 2002
 | page        = A1
 | id          = {{ProQuest|266981212}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>
Both were completed and opened on June{{nbsp}}11, 2004.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Enjoy the ride
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = June 10, 2004
 | page        = A12
 | id          = {{ProQuest|267094832}} {{Subscription required}}
 | quote       = It cost $29 million and took three years of construction work, but the most loathed and clearly one of the most dangerous interchanges in Waterloo Region is being closed and replaced by a new flyover. If the weather co-operates, this two-lane, 800-metre long engineering marvel which boasts its own automatic, de-icing system will open in time for tomorrow morning's rush hour.}}</ref>

Construction began in 2012 to widen the parkway to six lanes from east of Courtland Avenue to west of Fischer-Hallman Road, including the installation of a median barrier.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Bridges to be replaced during upgrade
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = April 8, 2013
 | page        = A1
 | url         = https://www.pressreader.com/canada/waterloo-region-record/20130408/281496453753443
 | access-date = April 8, 2022}}</ref>
The C$130 million project was completed in 2016.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = Sign off? Overhead billboard will light up when Highway 7/8 widening finishes
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = January 22, 2016
 | page        = B3
 | id          = {{ProQuest|1758853564}} {{Subscription required}}}}</ref>

== Future ==
Long term plans have called for the construction of a freeway link between Kitchener and Guelph, linking the Conestoga Parkway with the [[Hanlon Expressway]] ([[Ontario Highway 6|Highway&nbsp;6]]). Although proposed in the 1980s, construction did not begin until 2015.<ref>{{cite news
 | title       = 4 lane Kitchener-Guelph link 32 years in the making
 | work        = [[CBC News]]
 | date        = September 7, 2017
 | url         = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/highway-7-kitchener-guelph-completion-2021-1.4278937
 | access-date = April 5, 2022}}</ref>
Opposition arose due to the new alignment of this Highway{{nbsp}}7 freeway passing through environmentally sensitive lands. In particular, the [[Canadian dollar|$]]25 million cost of the interchange between the new freeway and the Conestoga Parkway; the high cost is partly due to land acquisition to accommodate the proposed flyover ramps. This represents a quarter of the projected C$100{{nbsp}}million budget for the total Highway{{nbsp}}7 project.<ref>{{cite news
 | first       = Jeff | last = Outhit
 | title       = New Highway 7 delayed again as 28 years of planning drags on
 | work        = [[Waterloo Region Record|The Record]]
 | date        = September 7, 2017
 | url         = https://www.therecord.com/news-story/7540630-new-highway-7-delayed-again-as-28-years-of-planning-drags-on/ 
 | access-date = April 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
 | title        = Design and Construction Report – Detailed Design Study to Advance Construction for Highway 7 New: Victoria Street Widening and Bridge Replacement and Shirley Avenue Extension and Widening
 | publisher    = [[MMM Group]]
 | date         = February 3, 2016 
 | url          = https://guelph.ca/wp-content/uploads/Victoria-St.-Report.pdf 
 | access-date  = April 5, 2022}}</ref>
The Victoria Street overpass was demolished overnight on February{{nbsp}}23–24, 2018, and was replaced with a new structure that reopened to traffic on October{{nbsp}}28; the new bridge is longer and has a higher elevation to accommodate the future ramps between Highway{{nbsp}}7 and the Conestoga Parkway.<ref>{{cite web
 | first       = Hayden | last = Phillips
 | title       = Victoria Street bridge gone, Conestoga Parkway open 
 | website     = CTV News 
 | date        = February 25, 2018 
 | url         = https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article/victoria-street-bridge-gone-conestoga-parkway-open/
 | access-date = April 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
 | title       = Kitchener's Victoria Street bridge reopening for Monday commute
 | work        = [[CBC News]]
 | date        = October 25, 2018
 | url         = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/victoria-street-bridge-kitchener-reopens-1.4877660
 | access-date = April 5, 2022}}</ref>

== Exit list ==
{{ONinttop|the=yes|maint=MTO|unnum=yes|division=Waterloo|length_ref=<ref name="km">{{cite web
 | title       = Provincial Highways Traffic Volumes 2016: King's Highways / Secondary Highways / Tertiary Roads
 | author      = Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
 | year        = 2016
 | pages       = 7–8, 28
 | url         = https://www.library.mto.gov.on.ca/SydneyPLUS/TechPubs/Theme.aspx?r=702797&f=files%2fProvincial+Highways+Traffic+Volumes+2016+AADT+Only.pdf&m=resource
 | access-date = March 16, 2022}}</ref>}}
{{ONint
| location         = Kitchener
| lspan            = 10
| type             = trans
| km               = 0.0
| uspan            = 2
| road             = {{jcon|Hwy|7|con=8|dir=west|city=Stratford|shield=y}}
| notes            = Kitchener city limits; continuation of {{jcon|Hwy|7|con=8|ot=y}}
}}
{{ONint
| km               = none
| road             = {{jcon|Waterloo|70|Trussler Road}}
| notes            = 
}}
{{ONint
| km               = 2.9
| road             = {{jcon|Waterloo|58|Fischer-Hallman Road}}
| notes            = 
}}
{{ONint
| km               = 5.5
| road             = {{jcon|Waterloo|28|Homer Watson Boulevard}}<br />{{jcon|Waterloo|4|Ottawa Street}}
| notes            = 
}}
{{ONint
| km               = 6.8
| road             = {{jcon|Waterloo|53|Courtland Avenue}}
| notes            = 
}}
{{ONint
| type             = concur
| km               = 8.2
| road             = {{jcon|Hwy|8|to=401|dir=east|Freeport Diversion}}
| notes            = Eastern end of Highway&nbsp;8 concurrency
}}
{{ONint
| km               = 9.5
| road             = {{jcon|Waterloo|4|Ottawa Street}}
| notes            = 
}}
{{ONint
| type             = trans
| km               = 11.0
| road             = {{jcon|Hwy|7|dir=east|Victoria Street&nbsp;/ {{jcon|Waterloo|55|nosh=y}}}}<br />Frederick Street ({{jcon|Waterloo|6|nosh=y}})<hr/>{{jcon|Hwy|85|dir=begins|shield=y}}
| notes            = Eastern end of Highway&nbsp;7 designation; Highway&nbsp;85 southern terminus; access to Victoria Street and Frederick Street via Bruce Street (northbound) and Edna Street (southbound)
}}
{{ONint
| type             = proposed
| km               = 11.3
| road             = Wellington Street
| notes            = Future realignment of {{jcon|Hwy|7|nosh=y}} as part of the proposed Kitchener–[[Guelph, Ontario|Guelph]] freeway<ref>{{cite web |title=New Highway 7 – Kitchener to Guelph |url=https://newhighway7.ca/ |website=New Highway 7 |publisher=Ontario Ministry of Transportation |access-date=May 6, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite map |author = The Regional Municipality of Waterloo |title = Region of Waterloo |trans-title = Region Base Map |date = June 2020 |url = https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/opendatadownloads/Base_Region100WebFullColour.pdf |scale = 1:100,000 |publisher = The Regional Municipality of Waterloo |cartography = Information & Technology Services |language = en}}</ref>
}}
{{ONint
| type             = incomplete
| km               = 12.8
| road             = {{jcon|Waterloo|29|Lancaster Street}}
| notes            = Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{ONint
| location         = Waterloo
| lspan            = 4
| km               = 13.7
| road             = {{jcon|Waterloo|9|Bridgeport Road}}
| notes            = 
}}
{{ONint
| km               = 15.2
| road             = {{jcon|Waterloo|57|University Avenue}}
| notes            = 
}}
{{ONint
| km               = 17.6
| road             = {{jcon|Waterloo|15|King Street North}}
| notes            = 
}}
{{ONint
| km               = 18.9
| road             = {{jcon|Waterloo|50|Northfield Drive}}
| notes            = 
}}
{{ONint
| location_special = [[Woolwich, Ontario|Woolwich Township]]
| lspan            = 2
| km               = 20.4
| road             = {{jcon|Waterloo|15|King Street North}}
| notes            = 
}}
{{ONint
| type             = trans
| km               = 20.7
| road             = {{jcon|Hwy|85|dir=ends|shield=y}}<br/>{{jcon|Waterloo|85|dir=north}}
| notes            = Highway&nbsp;85 northern terminus; continues as Regional Road&nbsp;85
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=concur,incomplete,proposed,trans}}

== See also ==
*[[400-series highways]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br3H76Sq_lA Timelapse driving video of the Conestoga Parkway]

{{Waterloo Regional Roads}}
{{Ontario Controlled Access Highways}}
{{Kitchener, Ontario}}

[[Category:Roads in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo]]
[[Category:Ontario provincial highways]]
[[Category:Roads in Kitchener, Ontario]]
[[Category:Roads in Waterloo, Ontario]]